AN animal welfare charity is bracing itself for the toughest Christmas yet due to fears the financial strain from the coronavirus pandemic could mean a rise in pets being abandoned and neglected.
The RSPCA dealt with 651 incidents in Oxfordshire across the last winter period (December, January and February) and 240 in December alone.
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Last Christmas Day, the charity received more than 950 calls in the UK, the highest number since 2013 and it received 63,000 calls throughout December, or 2,000 a day, making it the busiest Christmas period for at least four years.
Due to the pandemic this year, the charity is concerned that more people may struggle to care for their pets and could see a rise in them being abandoned or neglected, putting more pressure on the charity’s rescue teams than ever before.
RSPCA officers are out on the frontline all year including Christmas Day and the charity has launched campaign 'Join the Christmas Rescue' asking supporters to donate to help rescue teams reach the thousands of animals who need them.
Dermot Murphy, head of the RSPCA’s animal rescue teams, said: “Christmas may be different for many people this year but for the RSPCA, our teams will be working day in, day out, as usual, rescuing, caring and rehabilitating those animals who need us the most.
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"Last year, we rescued thousands of animals over the winter months and we fear that due to the pandemic, we could be facing our toughest Christmas yet as we are braced for a rise in abandoned and neglected animals needing our help.”
Throughout December 2019, the charity took 2,587 more animals into its care, including 558 dogs, 1,416 cats, 149 rabbits, and 167 wildlife.
Dermot said: “It’s been a tough year for everyone, including charities, so now more than ever we need your help to continue our vital work saving animals and giving them a voice.
To donate go to, rspca.org.uk/xmas.
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